UK shop price inflation picks up, retailers ask government to help

LONDON, May 26 (Reuters) - British shop ​price ⁠inflation sped up in May ​on the back of disruption and higher energy costs caused ​by the ‌Iran war, according to a retail industry group which ⁠said the government had to ⁠do more to keep ​costs down.

The British Retail Consortium's monthly survey of major chains published on Tuesday showed that prices in May ​were ‌1.2% higher than a year earlier, up from a 1.0% rise in April.

Food price inflation slowed to 2.7%, its lowest in a year, from ​3.1%.

Furniture and health and beauty products rose by ‌the most reflecting rising raw material and shipping costs.

BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson ‌said the government - which has pressed supermarkets to slow price increases and flirted with the idea of demanding price ​caps this month - had to play its part in bringing down ‌costs for retailers.

"Reducing the non-commodity charges, taxes and levies that make up more than two-thirds of energy ⁠bills, and ⁠cutting red tape would help keep ‌inflation down," Dickinson said.

Britain's broader official consumer price inflation index fell ​to ​2.8% in April but is expected ‌to rise again to around 4% in the coming months due to the energy price shock.